Classical Notes: July 2026

'Laurent Pelly’s sparkling production of Donizetti’s La Fille du régiment is back at The Royal Opera, and based on last night’s opening performance, the fizz is as fresh as ever'.

'Making her Royal Opera debut as Marie, Sara Blanch was frankly astonishing. She is the complete package, with impeccable comic timing and convincing physical comedy, but also phenomenal vocal technique, whether upright, lying down or being held aloft by a chorus of soldiers'.

'He also still has that ability to flip from Harold Lloyd-esque comedy and highwire vocal gymnastics to winning hearts in the sustained lyricism of 'Pour me rapprocher de Marie''.

'Tamsin Greig’s splendid turn as the stuffy Duchess was in danger of stealing the show, even managing to make the shoe-horned World Cup jokes land, and maintaining character right to the curtain call'.

Tamsin Greig (Duchesse de Crakentorp) and chorus
© RBO/Tristram Kenton

'So raise a glass of bubbly to this effervescent and polished evening of joyful nonsense, and to the strong performances all round, not least from Flórez and especially Blanch – here’s hoping for more from her at Covent Garden in the future'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Sunday, 5 July 2026

Glyndebourne’s Billy Budd makes a welcome return, fresh and devastating as ever

The Glyndebourne Chorus in Billy Budd
© Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Tristram Kenton

Nicholas Carter (Conductor)

Michael Grandage (Director)

Ian Rutherford (Revival Director)

Christopher Oram (Designer)

Paule Constable (Lighting Designer)

Mark Ruddick (Flight Director)

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Pieter Schoeman (Leader)

The Glyndebourne Chorus

Aidan Oliver (Chorus Director)

Thomas Mole (Billy Budd)
© Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Tristram Kenton

Allan Clayton (Captain Vere)

Michael Wallace (First Mate)

John Mackenzie-Lavansch (Second Mate)

William Thomas (Mr Flint)

Michael Ronan (Bosun)

Samuel Dale Johnson (Donald)

Ru Charlesworth (Maintop)

Laurence Kilsby (Novice)

Daniel Norman (Squeak)

Dingle Yandell (Mr Redburn)

Daniel Okulitch (Lieutenant Ratcliffe)

Sam Carl (Claggart)

Alasdair Elliott (Red Whiskers)

Adam Marsden (Arthur Jones)

Thomas Mole (Billy Budd)

Alex Otterburn (Novice's Friend)

Clive Bayley (Dansker)

Gabriel Elliott Rous (Cabin Boy)

5pm, Thursday 2 July 2026

Glyndebourne, East Sussex

★★★★

Britten, Benjamin (1913-1976): Billy Budd, Op. 50

(libretto by Forster, E.M. (1879-1970) & Crozier, Eric (1914-1994))

'Thomas Mole's Billy, full of wide-eyed innocence, held onto his blind belief in Captain Vere right to the very end, despite evidence to the contrary, and was convincingly moving throughout'.

'Allan Clayton's steely tenor was impressive as ever as Vere, and the transition from the troubled and flawed captain to the haunted old man of the Prologue and Epilogue, reflecting on his failure to protect and save Billy, was powerfully moving'.

William Thomas (Mr Flint), Allan Clayton (Captain Vere)
& Dingle Yandell (Mr Redburn)
© Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Tristram Kenton

'Sam Carl (Claggart) had the vocal range and ... his baritone was penetratingly evil'.

'The chorus excelled at full-voice, as well as in their quiet chanting resignation, and their choreographed resistance and rapid movement around the levels of the set were solid and convincing'.

'Nicholas Carter conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra with precision and energy, bringing brilliance to Britten’s searing score, especially from the gleaming brass'.

Clive Bayley (Dansker), Alasdair Elliott (Red Whiskers),
Samuel Dale Johnson (Donald) & Alex Otterburn (Novice's Friend)
© Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Tristram Kenton

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Classical Notes

Thursday, 9 July 2026

Royal Opera revival of La Fille du régiment delights with fresh fizz

Sunday, 5 July 2026

Glyndebourne’s Billy Budd makes a welcome return, fresh and devastating as ever

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